Juárez man arrested at border, agents seize grocery bag full of money

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized $74,900 that was in a car headed to Mexico on Tuesday at the Zaragoza Bridge. The cars driver was arrested for not declaring money over $10,000 as required by federal law. (Courtesy of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

A Juárez man was arrested after U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents seized a bag of cash hidden under a box of doughnuts in a car headed to Mexico, officials said Friday.

Gerardo Nares Frias, 33, was arrested after $69,750 were found in a brown grocery bag, CBP officials said. Another $5,150 allegedly was found in Frias's pant's pocket and wallet.

CBP officers seized the money and the car that Frias was driving because Frias allegedly did not declare the money. The seizure was made Tuesday by CBP officers checking Mexico-bound traffic at the Zaragoza Bridge.

The seizure was part of more than $150,000 seized by CBP in four cases this week at the El Paso border. Drug proceeds are regularly shipped to Mexico is large quantities of cash.

REPORTER

Daniel Borunda

Federal law requires that travelers make a declaration when transporting more than $10,000 out of the country.